Voice for Equality: Ron Dellums

February 12, 2009

Ron Dellums has served as mayor of Oakland, California
since 2007. He was previously a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, where he served on the House Committee on the District
of Columbia and the House Armed Services Committee. Dellums was best
known for his campaign to end apartheid in South Africa.

On June 16, 2008, Dellums officiated in the City Council chambers at Oakland's first weddings of same-sex couples.
He said, "[Marriage] is a fundamental right to which all people are
entitled and I am proud that I can officiate the eternal unions of
these Oakland couples. Our city is one of the most diverse cities in
the country and we join in the celebration of this historic day of
human rights for all people."

Freedom to Marry was the campaign to win marriage nationwide. With the Supreme Court victory on June 26, 2015, the work of this strategic campaign – though not the larger movement – was achieved, and Freedom to Marry wound down its operations, closing in early 2016. For inquiries, please email legacy@freedomtomarry.org.